Is Your Diet Affecting Your Mental Health?

Is Your Diet Affecting Your Mental Health?

From a young age, we’re taught that eating healthy is important for our physical health. But, did you know that eating healthy is important for your mental health too?

Your diet and mental health share a complex link. Eating healthy can improve the state of your mental health, while on the other hand, a poor diet can worsen your mental health. Having awareness of this can help you make wiser dietary decisions. Here are some tips and tricks you can use to improve your diet and in turn improve your mental health!

Drink lots of water

More often than not, you’ll find your thirst confused with hunger. When strong cravings kick in, try drinking a large glass of water and wait a few minutes. You might come to find that your cravings have disappeared because you were really just thirsty. On top of this, drinking lots of water helps you think better and strengthens your immune system too.

Fight Stress

High-stress levels have been proven to increase food craving. Thankfully, there are many ways you can relieve stress. Taking a walk in the park, yoga, meditation, listening to music, or even taking deep breaths can help you relax your mind, making you feel more at peace and helping you make better dietary decisions!

Get ample sleep

Quantity and quality of sleep is important. A lack of proper sleep leads to a poor appetite and stronger cravings. Having a fixed bedtime and staying away from light emitting electronic devices for 30 minutes before bed can drastically improve your quality of sleep!

Practice mindful eating

Being aware of your eating habits, hunger levels, cravings and emotional sensations can really affect your diet. Mindful eating helps you to identify your cravings and physical hunger and distinguish one from the other. Make a conscious effort when planning your meals and avoid being spontaneous about your food choices.

Being aware of your cravings and what triggers them can help you avoid an unhealthy diet. Adopting a healthy diet ultimately leads to improving your physical and mental health!